Round straightener



July 13;1943; J. B. SUTTbN 1 $323,946

ROUND STRAIGHTENER File d Fem/20, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. "'K 29% damn y 1 9 J. B.,SUTTO N V 2,323,946 J ROUND STRAIGHTENER II'VVENTOR.

w; BY 4w 72%% center line varies.

"all three rolls. if they (are so placed'that it conhave Patented July 13, 1943 UNlTED STATES OFFICE 2,323,946 ROUND STRAIGHTENER John Blair Sutton, Pittsburgh, Pa;

Application February 20, 1942, Serial No. 431,737

23 Claims.

This invention relates to metal rolling apparatus of the cross roll type and is especially con'oerned with such apparatustin whichithe size of the roll pass isvariable to permit operation "on different sizes of stock. The application hereof forms a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No, 350,390,.filed August 3,1940.

'Cross rolling units of three rolls'are desirable in that they eliminatesupporting guides. The omission of guides is advantageous because of diiiiculties involved in adjusting guides to the correct height, when they wear oii, or when other size stock is passed through the machine, as

it is desirable to maintaina :practically constant level for the center line of the pass, and because guides, even When properly adjusted, tend to mark the stock.

ular to the center line'of the pass must remain constant as the spacing of the rolls from the Such plane is common for tains the minimum diameters of three rolls. I

succeeded straightening pass, which as herein illustrated consists of one driven concave roll -and two c011- cave idler rolls. in which adjustment may be made in satisfactory manner by an adjusting movement of the two idler rolls without moving the driven roll, "Since'the surface of the driven roll is fixed'and limits the .pass upon one side, the center line 'of the pass moves laterally as the size of the pass is changed; and I have, therefore, provided for preserving the angular 'relation of the normals, to which reference is above made, in shifting-theidlerrolls:along the paths followed in their adjusting movement.

While this adjustment avoids necessity for transverse movementof the primary,nor driven roll,

it is to beunderstood that transverse adjustment of that roll mayrbe provided. Thus my companion application. Serial No. 431,738, filed February 20, 1942, shows "means providing for the transverse adjustment of the primary roll in organizing a three-roll along lines normal to :the center on which the primary roll is pivoted for angular axial adjustment.

One object of my'invention isto provide cross roll straightening and .ifinishing apparatus comprising one or more sets or groups composed of a primary, or driven roll and :two secondary, or :idler rolls, in which the two secondary,-or idler, rolls are adjustable toward and from set positions of the primary roll in varying the dimensions of 'the stock-'conta'ctingipass in which the rolls contact the stock acted on in the apparatus.

Another object of my invention is to provide a system of roll mounting and arrangement in which the paths followed by'two of the rolls in their'adjusting'movement are so related-toeach other, and to the set position of the primary roll that the normals crossing the axesofthe two adjustable rolls at a-common plane perpendicular to the center line'of the pass remainrelated at unchanging angles as the positions of the idlers-are changed.

'Another object of the invention is toprovide simple and effective structure for causing the two adjustable rolls of the three-roll pass assembly to be simultaneously and equally moved along their correlated paths, and for mounting and backing those "rolls at any selected points along'their paths.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. I is a .plan view of astraightening machine embodying the above-indicated invention; Fig. .11 is .a diagrammatic vertical section through one of the roll passes with an adjustment to convenience in that 'the'tru circular diameters "of the rolls, rather than their distorted shape at the plane "of intersection, is shown; Fig. III is-a vertical sectional detail view of one of the passes. Fig. IVis adetail'front elevation of one of the idler roll brackets of the machine assembly shown in Fig. III. Fig. V is a view similar iii-arrangement to Fig. III but illustrating a modification in structure, to provide independent wear adjustment of the tWo idler rolls of the machine. Fig. V1 is a front elevation of one idler roll bracket appropriate to eitherof the idler roll which usually is adjusted to deflect the stock, and progresses through the second pass. The rolls I and 5 of the cross-roll passes are driven, the pposed paired rolls 2-3 and BI, although they may be driven, are shown as idlers. The roll units are mounted in a housing 9, and driven rolls I and are positively impelled through reduction gearing by a motor ID, in the directions of rotation indicated by the arrows.

Referring to Fig. II of the drawings, which is taken diagrammatically on a plane perpendicular to the center line of the roll pass, the paths followed by the idler rolls in their adjusting movement, and the determinants for such paths are shown. The center line of the pass is designated C, and from the center line extend normals CA, 0-3 and. CD, that respectively cross the axes F, G and J of the driven roll I, and the idler rolls 2 and 3. The ideal angular grouping of the rolls about the pass is the one which permits the largest possible rolls for the smallest required stock. As the rolls 2 and 3 are shown of the same size, and smaller than roll I, angles A-C--B and A--CD will be equal and both larger than angle B-G-D, to conform to the ideal arrangement. To enlarge the pass to accommodate larger stock, indicated by the circle I I, by shifting the idler rolls 2 and 3 while retaining constant the angular relation with the normals, the rolls are moved along the paths G-H and JK. These paths are related to the normals CB and CD at angles, designated b, that are in the illustrated structure equal to each other, and that are one-fourth as great as the angles that separate the normals.

The angular relation of these paths with the normals is determined in the following manner: The angles, designated a, between normal C-A extended, and normal CB and CD respectively, are both one-half as great as the angle separating the normals of the rolls 2 and 3. The radius of the stock 8 of minimum diameter may be termed 7's, and that of the larger stock I I, adjustment for which is shown may be called r11. The equal minimum radius of rolls 2 and 3 is for convenience called 12. The center line of the enlarged pass being designated E, distance EH minus distance CG must equal distance CE, because the line E-H is equal to m (the radius of the larger stock) plus T2 the minimum radius of the idler roll 2), and the difference between m and TB is equal to CE. The distance GH is therefore the resultant of two components of equal size: CE and (E-H minus CG) forming with them a diagonal of inclination b=a/2 in a rhombus of an inclination angle (1. Since angles a are one-half as great as angle BCD, angles b are one-quarter as great as angle BCD.

The above gives the derivation for the establishment of ideal paths of movement for adjustment of the idler rolls to stock of different sizes. Some deviation from the mathematical ideal is, however, permissible; and satisfactory results are obtained by a relatively close approximation to the mathematical ideal. This is particularly the case if some slight transverse adjustment of the primary, or driven rolls be provided, as by accommodating the roll mountings in slide blocks mounted for movement transversely of the apparatus frame, and propelled by suitable means such as adjusting screws.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention the driven roll I( of one roll set) is mounted in a bracket I2 mounted for swinging motion on an I a true pass line in their adjusted positions.

axis that coincides with the normal CA. Idler roll 2 is mounted in a bracket I3 that is swivelled to swing upon an axis coincident with normal CB, so that, in appropriate manner it may be adjusted for contact with stocks of different sizes. The adjustment may be accomplished by means of a handle I4 secured to a plate I5, which in turn is secured to the bracket I3. Locking screws I6 are mounted in the bracket I 3, and extend through arcuate slots I! in a slideable carriage I8 upon which the bracket is swivelled.

Idler roll 3 is mounted in a bracket 35 for swinging movement on an axis that coincides with the normal CD, a handle I4 being provided for swinging the bracket. This handle I4 is carried by a plate I 5', which in turn is secured to the bracket 35, locking screws 40 are mounted in the bracket 35, and extend through arcuate slots in a slideable carriage GI upon which the bracket is swivelled.

By movement of these slideable carriages I8 and 4! the idler rolls 2 and 3 are simultaneously adjustable along lines closely approximating the lines CH and CK, respectively, to maintain To this end the carriage I8 for idler roll 2 and the carriage M for idler 3, are respectively slideable in a way between guides I9, and in a way between guides I9. Both the guides I9 and the guides I9 are carried in a vertically-divided guide block 29, one-half of which is shown in Fig. III of the drawings, Adjacent both the guide I9 and the guide I9 there are shown surfaces ZI, 22 and 23 which are provided for meeting with similar surfaces of the other portion of the guide block. The halves of the guide block are relatively positioned by shoulders 25 and 26 (shown in Fig. III) and by matching shoulders on the other half of the guide block; and the halves of the guide block are held together by bolts 24 extended through both halves of the block.

For adjusting movement, guide block 20 is slideable as a whole on a mounting plate 2'1; movement of the guide block on the mounting plate being limited by a key and keyway connection 28 to a direction parallel to the axial centerline of the pass. Plate 21 itself is adjustable with respect to the machine frame 9, its adjustment being limited to a direction transverse to the pass line by a key and keyway connection 29. Overall adjustment transversely of the pass is eifected by means of adjusting screws 3!], which move the plate 21, carrying the guide block 20 in a direction limited by the keyed connection 29 to a transverse direction with respect to the axis of the pass. Nuts 3| fix this adjustment when made; and the assembly is held firmly together by setscrews 32, equipped with lock nuts 33. Adjusting screws 30 lie in slots 34 of the frame arranged to permit the above-described adjustment of the guide block parallel to the pass line. This transverse adjustment is in compensation for wear, and is one which is not frequently made.

The lines G--H and JK, along which the roll carriages I 8 and 4| move in sliding between guides I9 and I9 respectively, converge at a single point on the normal AC, since the angular relation of the lower guides to the normal CD orr sponds to that of the upper guides to normal CB, the two angles b indicated in Fig. III being equal. It will be noted that normal CA bisects the angle BCD of the normals, and also the angle between the center lines of the paths defined by the two sets of guides I9.

As illustrated, the apparatus is organized with respect to a minimum diameter of the stock, the primary roll of each three-roll group being mounted without provision for transverse adjustment, and accommodation to stock of larger sizes is made by retracting the two opposed secondary rolls along paths that converge to a point beyond the center line of the pass. If, however, the primary roll be made transversely adjustable in some manner as above indicated, that roll may be set in an advanced position, cooperatively with the paired secondary rolls to define the pass for minimum stock diameter. When both the paired secondary rolls and the primary rolls are then retracted to accommodate the pass through the group to stock of larger size, the lateral shifting of the pass will be such that the convergent paths along which the secondary rolls are moved will tend to meet at, rather than beyond, the center line of the pass. In such case it is desirable that the adjustment of the secondary rolls be made at least partially by the means provided for wear adjustment of the secondary rolls.

Adjustment of the carriages l8 and 4! in their respective guide ways is accomplished by means of a toggle link 33 arranged between, and connected with the shoes l8 and M by toggle arms 46. The link 43 is movable along a path midway between the converging guides and bisects the angle between such path being along the normal AC extended. A key 45 extends from each side of the link 43 for engagement in ways in the block 28 for guiding the link in the correct path.

A screw 45, which is by means of a collar 46a and a nut 4% held against axial movement in the frame, extends through a threaded bore in the link for moving the latter as the screw is turned. The bearing block 29) has an extension 41 through which the screw 45 extends, and which is movable longitudinally of the frame to permit longitudinal motion of the block and mechanism that it supports.

The adjusting screw it is provided with a screw-controlled locking device 56 by means of which the toggle link 53, and consequently the slide shoes or carriages i8 and ill and rolls 2 and 3 may be secured in adjustment. A hand wheel 5i is provided for turning the screw to efiect adjustments.

Locking engagement of bracket is provided 1 or by means of a bolt 35 which has a head bearing against a conical surface 38 having therein a slot 3'! in which the shank of the bolt lies. Bolt 36 may be tightened by means of a nut 255a available at the front of the machine. shoe or carriage ll! is constructed with a hole through which the bolt 35 passes, so that it may extend out through a slot 42 in the main frame of the machine to be engaged by the nut 35a.

In the machine illustrated, the central idler roll unit 52 has a single roll 4, mounted in a bracket that can swing around a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the pass line. Adjustment of the roll 4 may be accomplished by means of a handvvheel 53, in known manner.

It is to be understood that substantial change in both the mounting structure for the rolls and in the roll arrangement may be made. The illustrated embodiment of my invention is a crossroll straightening apparatus in which two threeroll groups are spaced longitudinally of the apparatus frame, as entering and leaving groups or sets of cross-rolls, with a single pressure roll mounted between the two three-roll groups to bear intermediately on stock held in them. If

The slide desired, however, a pair of rolls, such as the pair of idlers in the three-roll groups may be substituted for the single pressure roll, or a pair of opposed cross-rolls or even an additional three-roll group may be substituted, or the intermediate roll may be omitted. Also it is to be understood that one of the three-roll groups or sets may be used above as a straightening pass, particularly for small diameter stock which does not have any long-radius bends or sweeps; and that one of the three-roll groups may be used in association with any organization of opposed pairs of rolls.

The operation and advantages of a roll pass assembled and supported as described will be readily apparent. Adjustment of the size of the pass is accomplished by the simple operation of turning the handwheel 5|, by means of which the link 13 is moved and consequently the carriages are moved simultaneously and equally along the correct paths to maintain the proper relation of the two adjustable rolls as they are moved toward and from the stationary roll.

Referring to the structure shown in Fig. III of the drawings, accommodation to wear of the driven roll I, or to equal wear on the idler rolls 2 and 3 is provided. Thus, if there be, for example, a wear of inch on the driven roll I, accommodation to the wear may be made by adjusting both of the idler rolls 2 and 3 toward roll I that same distance along the normal AC. Likewise, if there be equal wear on the idler rolls 2 and 3, accommodation to such wear might be made by equally moving the idler rolls 2 and 3 an equal distance away from the roll I along the normal AC extended. Movement in both directions along normal AC may be had by adjustment of guide block 28.

The adjustment shown in Fig, III does not, however, provide accommodation to unequal wear of the rolls 2 and 3. It should be understood that if there were provision for adjustment of the rolls 2 and 3 along their normals C-B and 0-D (not their paths C-H and C--K for adjustment of the pass diameter) all the above wear accommodations would be obtained, since the effect would be an accommodating adjustment along the normal AC, or AC extended, as a resultant. If such adjustment of the rolls 2 and 3 is made independent, accommodation to unequal wear of those rolls is additionally obtained. For example, a wear of inch on roll 2 alone can be compensated by independently adjusting that roll inch along normal AC extended toward C, without moving roll 3. Similarly accommodation to wear on roll 3 alone may be made by moving it, without moving roll 2. If both rolls 2 and 3 be worn, but unequally worn, accommodation may be made by adjusting both rolls unequally along their normals CB and C-D. If lateral adjustment of the primary roll is provided it is desirable, as above noted, to utilize the wear adjustment of, the secondary rolls in making a pass adjustment.

The modification illustrated in Figs. V and VI provides for independent adjustment of rolls 2 and 3 in accommodation to wear. In those figures of the drawings accommodating adjustment is similarly provided in the bracket !3' of roll 2, and in the bracket 35' of roll 3. A description of bracket l3, and the adjusting means associated with it, will serve therefore to describe both brackets.

Referring therefore to the structure of bracket l3, wedges 54 and 55 between the bracket and its carriage ride upon cooperatively inclined surfaces 54a and 55a. Wedges 5G and 55 are clampingly held, and may be forced toward each other by a bolt 58, having a square head 58a bearing against the wedge 55 and a nut 59 bearing against the wedge 54. An extension bolt 58 on the roll trunnion, having a nut El, opposes bracket movement under the influence of the wedges 5d and 55, bolt 53, and nut 59. To make an adjustment along the normal CB toward the point C, nut 51 is retracted to allow for the adjustment, and nut 59 is tightened, moving the wedges inwardly, and forcing the bracket I3 toward the point C. Adjustment away from the point C is made by retracting nut 59, and tightening nut 51. As above noted, the means for adjusting bracket 35 are identical with the means described.

An oblong hole, or slot, 65 in each of the brackets permits adjusting movement of the bracket and guides the bolt 58, which in turn by extending through holes 6| guides the wedges 54 and 55 when the bracket is swung to adjust the angular position of the roll. Bolt 58 is held against turning by its square head 58a lying in a squared recess 55b in the wedge 55.

In the modification of Figs. V and VI certain elements of the structure shown in Figs. III and IV may be omitted. Because adjustment of guide block is made unnecessary, the guide block may lie directly against the housing 9, and the plate 21 with its keyways (as shown in Fig. III) is omitted. Guide block 20 is secured in the assembly of Fig. V by studs 62 passed through nuts 63. Slots 34 (as in Fig. III) permit adjustment of guide block 20 and the rolls 2 and 3 along the pass line.

Rotation of the brackets I 3' and 35 is normally prevented by the frictional contact between the brackets and their associated wedges, and for this reason the screws l6 and 68, and the bolt 36, of the assembly shown in Fig. III are unnecessary. To make swinging adjustment of a roll, the nut 59 on its bolt 58 is loosened, and is retightened after the angular adjustment has been made. The wedges 54 and 55 are shown perpendicular to the axis of the rolls, but the inclined surfaces 64 with which the inclined faces of the wedges cooperate may be placed in any angular relation to the axes of the rolls which may conveniently conform to space requirements and the operation of nut 59 in permitting adjustment or fixing the position of the brackets.

Whereas in the illustrated embodiment of my invention each roll pass is shown as a three-roll pass consisting of a single driven roll and two paired idler rolls, that specific organization is not essential to my invention, which resides in the organization of one or more three-roll groups, or sets, in a cross-roll straightening apparatus, and in providing adjustment to conform a threeroll pass to stock of different sizes, rather than in the driving of the rolls. Thus by the use of properly organized driving means and connections of known sort, all three rolls of the pass may be driven, or if desired the paired adjustable rolls may be driven and the single roll may be an idler roll.

I claim as my invention:

1. In cross-rolling apparatus including grouped rolls that form a pass, said rolls including a pair of adjacent rolls the axes of which are arranged at angles to each other and to the center line of the. pass. and said paired rolls being angularly so spaced from the center line of the pass that normals of the pass that cross the respective axes of the rolls upon a plane perpendicular to the center line thereof at the smallest diameters of the rolls are angularly related in accordance with a minimum stock diameter of the pass, means for varying the size of the pass while maintaining the proper relative positioning and angular relations of the rolls that comprises mechanism organized laterally to move the adjacent paired rolls toward and away from the pass, and structure arranged to constrain such motion of the respective rolls to angularly related paths that converge beyond the center line of the pass and that are arranged at approximately equal angles to normals of the pass that respectively cross the axes of the paired rolls at a common plane perpendicular to the center line of the pass, the approximately equal angles which the said paths form with the said normals being substantially one-quarter as great as the angle separating the normals.

2. In cross-rolling apparatus including a concave driven roll and a pair of concave idler rolls, said rolls being grouped to form a pass and having their axes arranged at angles to each other and to the center line of the pass, said rolls being so angularly spaced about the center line of the pass that normals of the pass that cross the respective axes of the rolls upon a plane perpendicular to the center line thereof at the smallest diameters of the rolls are angularly related in accordance with a minimum stock diameter of the pass, means for varying the size of the pass A while maintaining the proper spacing and angular relation of the rolls, said means comprising mechanism organized laterally to move the idler roll toward and away from the pass while maintaining their angular relation to each other and to the center line of the pass, and guide members arranged to constrain the lateral motion of the idler rolls to paths that bear an approximately equal angular relation to the normals of the pass that cross the axes of the rolls at their smallest diameters.

3. In cross-rolling apparatus including a frame, a roll having a laterally fixed mounting in the frame, a pair of laterally movable rolls, said three rolls being grouped to form a pass and having their axes arranged at angles to each other and to the center line of the pass, a roll-supporting assembly for said laterally movable rolls comprising carriages respectively supporting the said rolls in determined angular relation to each other and to the center line of the pass, guide members mounted on the frame and slideably supporting the carriages, said guide members being arranged to guide the said carriages respectively along paths that bear an approximately equal angular relation to normals that cross the axes of the said laterally movable rolls at a plane perpendicular to the center line of the pass and that converge toward a point beyond the center line of the pass,'and operating mechanism organized simultaneously and equally to move the carriages along the guide members to vary the size of the pass.

4. In cross-rolling apparatus including a frame, a laterally fixed roll supported by the frame, a pair of laterally movable rolls, said three rolls being grouped to form a pass and their axes being arranged at angles to each other and to the center line of the pass, and a supporting assembly for the said laterally movable rolls in accordance with claim 3, wherein the carriages are provided with swivel-mounted roll supports by means of which the angular position of the rolls may be adjusted.

5. In cross-rolling apparatus including a frame, a roll having a laterally fixed mounting in the frame, a pair of laterally movable rolls, said rolls being grouped to form a pass and their axes being arranged at angles to each other and to the center line of the pass, and a supporting assembly for the said laterally movable rolls in accordance with claim 3, wherein the carriages are provided with swivel-mounted roll supports by means of which the angular position.of the rolls may be adjusted, and wedgin assemblies in said roll supports organized to vary the mounted distance of the said rolls from the pass in accommodation to wear on the rolls.

6. In cross-rolling apparatus that includes a frame, a concave laterally fixed roll mounted on the frame and a pair of concave laterally movable rolls, said rolls being grouped to form a pass and having their axes arranged at angles to each other and to the center line of the pass, and said rolls being so angularly spaced about the center line of the pass that normals of the pass that cross their axes at a plane perpendicular to we center line of the pass at the smallest diameters of the rolls are related in accordance with the minimum stock diameter of the pass, adjustable supporting assemblies for the respective laterally movable rolls comprising carriage that are movable along the paths that converge toward the opposite side of the center line of the pass and that lie between and bear approximately equal angular relation to the said respective normals, and roll supports that respectively carry the laterally movable rolls andthat are swiveled to the respective carriage upon centers that colncide with said normals crossin the axes of the said rolls.

7. In cross-rolling apparatus that includes a frame, a concave laterally fixed roll mounted on the frame and a pair of concave laterally movable rolls, said rolls being grouped to form a pass and having their axes arranged at angles to each other and to the center line of the pass, and said rolls being so angularly spaced about the center line of the pass that normals of the pass that cross their axes at a plane perpendicular to the center line of the pass at the smallest diameters of the rolls are related in accordance with the minimum stock diameter of the pass, adjustable supporting assemblies for the respective laterally movable rolls comprising carriages that are movable along paths that converge toward the opposite side of the center line of the pass and that lie between and bear approximately equal angular relation to the respective said normals, roll supports that respectively carry the laterally movable rolls and that are swiveled to the respective carriages upon centers that coincide with said normals crossing the axes of the said rolls, and adjusting means in the said roll supports organized to vary the mounted position of the said rolls along the said normals in accommodation to wear on the rolls.

8. Cross-rolling apparatus comprising a frame having a member extending longitudinally parallel to the direction of motion of the stock to be rolled, a supporting block movably mounted upon said member for longitudinal and transverse adjustment therein, a pair of angularly related, converging guides carried by the block, roll-supporting carriages adjustable along said converging guides and respectively supporting each one roll of a pair of rolls, a laterally fixed roll mounted on the frame in a position to cooperate with the laterally movable orlls to form a pass, the rolls being so spaced about the center line of the pass that normals crossing the axes of the laterally movable rolls are related at an angle greater than that between the converging guides, and the said normal that crosses the axis of the laterally fixed roll approximately bisects the angle between the said guide members.

9. Cross-rolling apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the supporting block is movably mounted upon a carrying element for adjustment in directions longitudinal of the frame member, and the carrying element is movably mounted on the frame member for adjustment in directions transverse to said member.

10. Cross-rolling apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the supporting block is divided in a plane perpendicular to the center line of the pass into portions having meeting faces, said meeting faces being provided with Ways that cooperate to form the converging guides.

11. Cross-rolling apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the supporting block is vertically divided in a plane perpendicular to the center line of the pass into portions having meeting faces, said meeting faces being provided with ways that cooperate to form the converging guides, and said portions between the ways being pocketed to provide a space between them, and operating mechanism for moving the carriages is mounted in the space provided by the ockets in sa d elements.

12. In cross-rolling apparatus including a concave laterally fixed roll and a pair of concave laterally movable rolls, said rolls being grouped to form a pass and having their axes arranged at angles to each other and to the center line of the pass, said rolls being so angularly spaced about the center line of the pass that normals of the pass that cross the respective axes of the rolls upon a plane perpendicular to the center line thereof at the smallest diameters of the rolls are angularly related in accordance with the minimum stock diameter of the pass, means for varying the size of the pass while maintaining the proper spacing and angular relation of the rolls, said means comprising mechanism for laterally moving the said laterally movable rolls toward and away from the pas while maintaining their angular relation to each other and to the center line of the pass, and guide members for constraining the lateral motion of the said 1aterally movable rolls to paths that are angularly related to the normals of the pass that cross the axes of the rolls at their smallest diameters.

13. In cross-rolling apparatus including a concave laterally fixed roll and a pair of concave laterally movable rolls, said rolls being grouped to form a pass and having their axes arranged at angles to each other and to the center line of the pass, said rolls being so angularly spaced about the center line of the pass that normals of the pass that cross the respective axes of the rolls upon a plane perpendicular to the center line thereof at the smallest diameter of the rolls are angularly related in accordance with the minimum stock diameter of the pass, means for varying the size of the pass according to claim 12, wherein the guide members are arranged to constrain the lateral movement of the said laterally movable rolls to straight path that converge beyond the center line of the pass and that are related to the normals of the pass that cross the axes of the said laterally movable rolls at their smallest diameters at angles substantially one-quarter a great as the angles between said normals.

14. In cross-rolling apparatus including grouped rolls that form a pass, said rolls including a pair of adjacent rolls the axes of which are arranged at angles to each other and to the center line of the pass, and said paired rolls being angularly spaced from the center line of the pass, mean for vary ng the size of the pass while maintaining the proper relative positioning and angular relations of the roll that comprises mechanism organized lateraHy to move the adjacent paired rolls toward and away from the pass, structure arranged to constrain such motion of the respective rolls to angularly related paths that converge toward the pass and that; hear an approximately equal relation to normals of the pass that respectively cross the axes of the paired rolls at a common plane perpendicular to the center line of the pass, and roll supports for the said paired rolls organized to adjust the said rolls individually toward and from the pass along the said normals in accommodation to wear on the rolls.

15. In cross rolling apparatus including grouped rolls that form a pass, said rolls including a pair of adjacent rolls the axes of which are arranged at angles to each other and to the center line of the pass, and said paired rolls being angularly spaced from the center line of the pass, means for varying the size of the pass while maintaining the proper relative positioning and angular relations of the rolls that comprises mechanism organized laterally to move the adjacent paired rolls toward and away from the pass, structure arranged to constrain such motion of the respective rolls to angularly related paths that converge beyond the center line of the pass and that are arranged at approximately equal angles to normals of the pass that respectively cross the axes of the paired rolls at a common plane perpendicular to the center line of the pass, the approximately equal angles which the said paths form with the said normals being substantially one-quarter as great as the angle separating the normals, and roll supports for the said paired rolls organized to adjust the rolls individually toward and from the pass along the said normals in accommodation to wear on the rolls.

16. In cross-rolling apparatus a three-roll pass composed of concave cross rolls, one roll of the pass being mounted in opposition to the other two thereof and immovable toward or from the center line of the pass, and the other two rolls of the pass being movable toward and from a point beyond the center line of the pass along converging paths.

17. In cross-rolling apparatus a three-roll pass composed of concave cross rolls, one roll of the pass being mounted in opposition to the other two thereof and immovable toward or from the center line of the pass, and the other two rolls of the pass being movable toward and from a point beyond the center line of the pass along converging paths, which intersect beyond the center line of the pass.

18. Cross-rolling apparatus including at least two sets of three cooperative concave cross rolls grouped together to form of each group a straightening pass, two of said rolls in each pass being adjustable as a unit toward and from a fixed position of the third said roll mounted in opposition thereto, one said pass being at the entering end of the apparatus and the other being at the leaving end of the apparatus, and means for directly driving at least one roll in each three-roll pass.

19. Cross-rolling apparatus including at least two sets of three cooperative concave cross rolls grouped together to form of each group a straightening pass, two of said rolls in each pass being adjustable as a unit toward and from a fixed position of the third said roll mounted in opposition thereto, one said pass being at the entering end of the apparatus and the other being at the leaving end of the apparatus, means for directly driving at least one roll in each threeroll pass, and at least one deflecting roll placed between the two said three-roll passes.

20. Cross-rolling apparatus in accordance with claim 18, in which two rolls of each three-roll pass are movable toward and from a fixed position of the third said roll of the pass along converging paths.

21. Cross-rolling apparatus in accordance with claim 19, in which two rolls of each three-roll pass are movable toward and from the center line of the pass along converging paths.

22. In cross-rolling apparatus a group of three rolls mounted with relatively inclined axes to form a straightening pass, one roll of the said three-roll group being a concave roll longer than either of the two other rolls and mounted in opposition to them, and the said two other rolls being movable toward and from the said longer roll along convergent paths.

23. In cross-rolling apparatus a group of three rolls mounted with relatively inclined axes to form a straightening pass, one roll of the said three-roll group being a concave roll longer than either of the two other rolls and mounted in opposition to them, and the two other rolls being movable toward and from the said longer roll along convergent paths which intersect beyond the center line of the pass formed by the said three-roll group.

JOHN BLAIR SUTTON. 

